Cleaning attachment for type-writing machines



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' S. FORD.

CLEANING-ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

Patented Dec. 30-, "1890.

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(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

. FOR CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE. WRITING MACHINES.

No. 443,672. Patented Dec. 30,1890. I

l v l I! a Hill??? NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUMMERFIELD FORD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLEANING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,672, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed September 23, 1890 Serial No. 365,896. (No model.)

. for type-writing machines.

An attachment embodying my invention is adapted to be connected with the frame of the type-writing machine, and is provided with a brush so mounted on the attachment that it may be readily operated to clean the several printing-types of the machine, said attachmentwhen in position being extended over the center of the basketof the machine,

so as to sustain the brush over the point to which the several printing-types are successively brought in printing, and in connection therewith suitable means whereby the attachment may be thrown out of operative position without disconnecting it from the frame of the machine.

The invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved attachment as applied to aRemington type- Writing machine. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing the frame of the typewriting machinein section and illustrating the operation of the brush in cleaning the types. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of my improved attachment, illustrating in clotted lines the position assumed by the attachment when thrown out of operative position. Fig. 4-. is a vertical crosssection on line 4 4 of Fig, 3, illustrating meansfor retaining the device in position for operation. Fig. 5 is a plan View of my improved attachment as applied 1 to a caligraph-machine. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same, showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the attachment when moved out of its operative position. Fig. 7 1s an end elevation of the attachment, showing more clearly the manner of attaching the same to the frame of the machine so that it may be moved out of operative position. Fig. Sis a vertical cross-section of the attachment on line 8 8 of Fig. 5.

In said drawings, A indicates the main frame of the type-writing machine, the upper table or top a of which is provided with a circular opening, around the margin of which theseveral type-arms A A are secured and connected by links a with the operating-levers in the usual manner. As will be readily understood, the construction of the machine is such that the type-faces a will when the keys are depressed be successively brought to the same position at the center of said opening and at a point slightly above the upper surface of the table a of the machine.

B indicates a supporting frame or yoke provided at its opposite ends with journal-bearing arms B B. The upper end of each of these arms B B is provided with a bearing in which a shaft C is revolubly secured.

Upon the inner end of the shaft 0, or the end which projects over the central part of the basket, is mounted a brush D, and at the other end of said shaft is provided a pinion G, which engages a gear-wheel 0 mounted upon the outer frame-arm B. A crank O is secured to the axis of the gear-wheel'Q and serves to operate the brush D through the medium of the gear-wheel O pinion C, and shaft 0. I g

A construction substantially as above described is shown in another application filed by me on July 16, 1890, Serial No. 358,965. I find in practice, however, that it is very desirable to so construct the type-cleaning attachment that it may be moved out of operative position without being disconnected from the frame of the writing-machine, so that the machine may be used in printingin the ordinary manner without its operation being interfered with by the presence of the cleaning attachment. To this end E in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 indicates a connecting-plate provided with hooks e 6 upon its inner end, adapted to engage a slot or opening (1, in the top of the machine-frame, through which the ribbon passes, and shaped at its outer end so as to conform to the contour of the machine described.

frame, and having a downwardly-projocting arm e, upon which is provided an interiorlyscrew-threaded hub 6 A set-screw c is engaged with said hub, and when screwed into the latter engages the frame A of the machine and serves to retain the connecting-plate E in position upon the main frame of the machine. Projecting ears or supports F are provided upon the outer part of the connectingplate E. Ahead F is pivotally connected with the ears or supports F, and to this head F is pivotally connected the supporting frame or yoke B by a screw or rivet f. These two pivoted connections are made at right angles with each other and together form a universal joint of familiar construction. By means of a joint of this construction the frame or yoke 13, with the parts supported thereon, may be first swung upon the pivot f, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, until the said yokeis at right angles with the side of the frame A, and then permitted to drop down at the side of the machine, occupying the position shown in Fig. 3 b dotted lines. \Vhen it is desired to aga n use the cleaning attachment, it may be quickly and easily moved about said pivotal supports into its operative position.

In order to hold said frame 13 and the cleaning mechanism in working position, I provide a spring-clip or friction-plate E, located upon the upperside of the plate E. This spring-plate E is conveniently formed, as shown more particularly in Fig. &, in a substantially U shape, with one of its arms secured horizontally upon the plate E. The supporting plate or yoke 13 when the attachment is moved into its operative position is inserted between the upper and lower arms ofthe spring-clip E, the latter being preferably bent so that the free arm will when the yoke 13 is inserted thereunder eXert a considerable pressure upon said yoke, so as to retain it and the working parts thereon firmly in working position. The spring-plate E also serves as a stop to prevent said yoke B from moving beyond the central position which it isintended to occupy when the attachment is in use for cleaning the printing-types of 'the 'machine.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 0, 7, and S, G indicates a suitable clip or connection adapted to engage a standard 0; upon thetop of the frame A,upon which the track or guide-rods a a for the paper supporting and feeding roller are supported. The clip G is formed with ears or supports g 1, upon which is pivotally secured a head ll. To this head 11 is pivotall y secured the yoke or sup port B, which in this instance is made of somewhatdifferent shape from that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and l. The pivotal connections are, however, in this instance made at right angles with each other, as before, and together form a universal joint, as in the other form of construction shown and hereinbefore In this particular construction the yoke B is formed with a laterally-projecting portion 1), adapted to be inserted between the guiderods a ct, and provided with an aperture Z), through which a key or wedge b may be passed, said key or wedge engaging the rods a a" to hold the yoke in position for operation. A stop I) is also provided upon the yoke B near its inner end, the same being adapted to engage with the side of the rods (0 a opposite the wedge or key b so as to prevent the yoke moving from its' central position,

It is obvious that many modifications of the universal connections between the ma chine-frame an d the cleaning attachment may be made, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to the particular forms of connection shown and described.

13y slight modifications in the construction of my attachment the same may be adapted for use upon forms of type'writing machines other than those shown.

A great advantage gained by the construction herein shown and described is that the operator of the writing-machine may keep the clean in g attachment constantly connected with the frame of the typewriter, if desired, and when he has a few minutes leisure may quickly throw back the carriage out of the way and swing the cleaning attachmentim stantly into its operative position upon the top of the main frame of the machine andsecure it in place thereon. In such case it may be that by the time the operation of cleaning the types is fairly commenced the operator will be interrupted and will be obliged touse the machine for printing. In this event he simply disengages the yoke from the springplate E or withdraws the key or wedge as the case may be, and moves the cleaning attachment out of its operative position, when it will be out of the way of the carriage, and the type-writer may be used in printing, as usual, and when next the operator has a few moments leisure he may quickly move the attachment back into its operative position and continue the work of cleaning tlie'type, as before.

I claim as myinveutiou-=- 1. The combination, with the printing types and frame of a type-writing machine, of an attachment for cleaning the types, comprising a type-cleaning brush and a frame supporting the said brush over the point at which the types strike when lifted, and means fol-so curing the attachment-frame to the machineframe, embracing a pivotal joint whereby the attachment may be swung out of operative position without detachment from the machine frame, substantially as described.

2, The combination, with the prin ting-types and frame of a ty] )e-writing machine, or an attachment for cleaning the types, comprising a ty 'ic cleaning brush and a frame supportin g the said brush over the point at which the types strike when lifted, and means for se curing the attachmenbframe to the machine frame, embracing a removable clamp adapted to engage the machine-frame, and a pivotal joint connecting the attachment-frame with said clamp, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the printing-types and frame of a type-writing machine, of an attachment for cleaning the types, comprising a type-cleaning brush and a frame supporting the said brush over the point at which the types strike when lifted, and means for securing the attachment-frame to the machineframe, embracinga removable clamp adapted to engage the machine-frame, a pivotal joint connecting the attachment-frame with the said clamp, and a holding device engaging the attachment-frame for rigidly holding the attachment in operative position, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with the printing-types.

of a type-writing machine, arranged in a circle, and the frame of said machine provided at its top with a circular opening through which the types operate, of an attachment for cleaning the types, consisting of a frame adapted to be secured to the top of the machine -frame, a horizontal shaft mounted in the attachment-frame and extending over said central opening, a circular brush mounted upon said shaft at the center of said opening and over the point at which the types strike when lifted, and means located at the side of the machine-frameforgivingrotaryoroscillating motion to said brush, means for connecting the attachment-frame to the machine-frame,

' embracing a pivotal joint whereby the attachment may be swung out of operative position without detachment from the frame, and means fol-securing the said attachment-frame in operative position on the machine-frame, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the printing-types of a type-writing machine, arranged in a circle, and the frame of said machine provided at its top with a circular opening through which the types operate, of an attachment for cleaning the types, consisting of aframe having a rigid arm overhanging the central opening of the machine-frame, a shaft mounted in the attachment-frame and supported at its inner end by said overhanging arm, and a revolving-brush mounted on said shaftat the center of said opening in the machine-frame, and means for connecting said attachment with the machine-frame, embracing a clamp adapted for engagement with the machineframe, a pivotal joint connecting the attachment-frame with the clamp, and means for holding the attachment-frame in operative position.

6. The combinatiomwith the printing-types of a type-writing machine, arranged in a circle, and the frame of said machine provided at its top with a circular opening through which the types operate,of an attachment for cleaning the types, consisting of a frame haw ing a rigid arm overhanging the central opening of the machine-frame, a shaft mounted in the attachment frame and supported at its inner end by said overhanging arm, and a revolving brush mounted on said shaft at the center of said opening in the machine-frame, and means for connecting said attachment with the machine-frame, embracing a clamp 1 sunnnarmtn roan.

Witnesses:

O. CLARENCE PooLE, GEORGE W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

